Mail-bag fastener.



No. 684,656. Patented Oct. l5, l90l.- B. WATSON.

MAIL BAG FASTENER.

[Application filed June 18, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

BENJAMIN \VATSON, OF EDEN, NEWV YORK.

MAIL-BAG FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,656, dated October 15, 1901.

Application filed-June 18,1901. Serial No. 65,014. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN WATSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Eden, in the countyof Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mail-Bag Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel simple mail bag fastening which is much easier to apply and remove than the ordinary strap-fastenin g, is secure, affords free access to the bag when detached therefrom, is quite light and strong, and may be manufactured at a moderate cost.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is here inafter described,and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side View of the improvement applied upon the mouth portion of a mailbag. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side view of the bag in part and of the improvement thereon, substantially on the line 2 2 in Fig.

3; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

The mail-bag 10 maybe of canvas orleather and is provided at one end with a normally open mouth for the introduction of mail-matter. The bag-mouth, as shown, extends across one end of the bag and comprises a slit (t between the two free transverse edges of the bag-opening.

The edges of the opening or slit a are preferably formed as shown in Fig. 3, each consisting of a tubulation I), having a core 0 of resilient materiaI-such, for example, as a wire coil or a cylindrical strand of gum, the latter being indicated in Fig. 3. The portion of each slit edge is formed into a tubulation by folding it outwardly and sewing or riveting the folded material near its margin upon the body of the bag, thus producing a casing of suitable diameter for the reception of the core 0. Near the termination of the slit 0;, at each side edge of the bag, a rivet d is inserted and secured transversely, holding the edge portions together at the ends of the slit and correspondingly strengthening the bag-mouth.

The securing device or fastener proper for the bag comprises a plurality of clamp-sections 11, similar in form, each consisting of a tubulation, preferably of sheet metal, such as sheet-steel, and having an opening e, formed longitudinally, the marginal edges or flanges e of the opening being curved outward slightly, as shown in Fig. 3. The opening 6 of each clamp-section 11 has a suitable width proportioned to the thickness of the mail-bag below and near the mouth-opening a therein.

Any suitable number of the clamp-sections 11 may be provided. As shown, these clamps are five in number, and the combined length of the clamp-sections should nearly equal the width of the bag at its mouth.

The clamp-sections 11 are each perforated near each end at points directly opposite the opening e, these perforations fbeing in the form of transverse slots of proper dimensions to adapt them to receive loosely an elongated link 12, which is introduced into two slotsf of an adjacent pair of clamp-sections. Preferably the links 12 are flattened and so fitted within the slots as to adapt the joints they form between the sections of the clamp to confer proper flexibility thereto when said clamps are positioned on the mail-bag.

The sectional clamp formed of the sections 11 and connecting-links 12 has such internal diameter as will adapt it to neatly slide upon the impinging rounded edge portions of the mail-bag mouth, the application of the clamp being from one end and effected after the mouth of the bag is completely closed by a lateral compression of its edges.

A hasp is provided for securing the sectional clamp upon the mail-bag after it has been slid over the tubulated edges of its mouth and consists of two members 13 14:, joined together at g. A flat eye it is formed at the opposite end of the hasp member 13, which is clipped in the slotf at the end of the sectional clamp which is to receive the hasp. A longitudinal slot 7 is formed in the hasp member 14 for the reception of a staple 15,

which projects from the mail-bag. Another hasp 16 is preferably'employed in conjunction with the hasp member 14, and, as shown in Fig. 1, the hasp 16 is hinged at m on the mail-bag, so as to fold upon the staple 15, and has a slot t" therein to facilitate such an engagement.

A handle, preferably in looped form, as shown at 17 in Fig. 1, is secured on one flap of the mail-bag mouth and extends upwardly therefrom to afford means for handling the filled bag and also for hanging the bag upon a suitable fixed projection when the bag is to be filled with mail-matter.

Assuming that the bag has been filled, the closure is effected as follows: The operator with one hand, while the bag is pendent, grasps the edges of the mouth a and by compression closes the same, so that the sectional clamp maybe freely slid at one end upon the rounded and contacting edges of said mouth, the end of the clamp farthest from the hasp member 13 being thus mounted thereupon.

The sectional clamp is completely mounted upon the mail-bag at its closed opening by longitudinal movement, so as to locate it thereon as shown in Fig. 1, which will manifestly clasp the rounded edges of the bagmouth together, affording a water-tight joint between them, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the operation of fastening the bag may now be completed by a proper adj ustment of the hasp section 14 and hasp 16 upon the staple 15, which will permit the application of a lock 18'- to the staple-bow and its locking adjustment, as usual.

It is obvious that by forming the clamp employed in a plurality of sections objectionable rigidity is avoided, and from the manner of connecting the clamp-sections with flat links the clamp complete is adapted to flex only a limited degree, so that it may be readily manipulated by grasping it at one end, which enables the operator to readily mount the clamp upon the mail-bag and also freely remove it by handling it at one end, where the hasp-section 13 is secured.

The invention, it is claimed, will expedite the work of closing and opening mail-bags, is very light, is quite secure, and is durable, as well as inexpensive to manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a mail-bag fastener of the indicated character, the clamp for closing the mouth of the bag, comprising a series of substantially U shaped sections, and flat oblong links loosely engaging transverse slots in end portions of the clamp-sections, afiording limited flexibility to the clamp.

2. In a mail-bag fastener of the character described, the combination with the bagmouth having tubulated edges, of a sectional clamp slidable on the mouth, adjacent sections being connected by slots therein engaged by oblong flat links which afford limited flexibility, a hinged hasp on an end of the-sec tional'clamp and slotted at its free end, and a staple on the bag over'which the hasp may be folded and receive the staple in its slot.

3. In a mail-bag fastener of the character described, the combination with the tubulated edges of the bag-mouth, and the mating U-shaped clam p,com posed of sectionsloosely joined at their ends with flat links which af- 3 ford limited flexibility,- of a slotted hasp hinged upon one end of the sectional clamp so as to depend at a side edge of the bag,- a like hasp hinged upon said bag below the pendent hasp, and a staple on the bag over which the two hinged hasps may fold and receive the staple in their registered slots.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN WATSON.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH J. LYONS, HENRY KREISS. 

